Less Than 2 Weeks To Go!

Leatherman’s Loop News, Volume 31, Issue 1

31st Leatherman’s Loop in less than 2 Weeks!

Winter had a last minute hurrah at the end of March, but we’re pretty sure it’s safe to say spring has arrived! We hope you are ready — because the 31st running of the Leatherman’s Loop Trail Race is just around the corner on April 23rd!

Race organizers Tony & Judy Godino, Rob Cummings, Mike Paletta, and the dedicated Leatherman’s Loop volunteers have been working hard to set up this year’s event. We are only missing YOU!

For those who like to get organized ahead of time, we will have early bib & shirt pickup at the entrance to Ward Pound Ridge Reservation on Saturday April 22nd from 10am-12pm. We will be in the WPA Gallery across from the park entrance booth. Come on over and pick up your bib the day before if you can — it will be one less thing for you to do on race day!

Here are some tips that will help you on race morning Sunday, April 23rd:

Traffic backing up at the entrance near race time – arrive early to avoid the crush.

1.) ARRIVE EARLY! Please plan to arrive at the park before 8:15am — or even earlier if you can swing it. The regular $10 parking fee is already incorporated as part of the loop entry fee so entry goes more quickly. Bonus: When you arrive early you will avoid the traffic backup at the entrance to the park. Traffic always backs up at the park entrance as race time approaches so please plan an early arrival. You will thank yourself when you are relaxed and ready to go at the start line. If you do find yourself stuck in traffic please be patient.

3.) BRING A FULL CHANGE OF CLOTHING! You will get wet and you will get muddy. Where and how you change after the race is up to you. Towels are a must. A clean, dry set of shoes is a requirement. There has never been a runner who emerged dry and clean from the woods after completing a Loop. Plan accordingly!

Race director Tony Godino gives out last minute instructions to runners before the start.

4.) LISTEN ATTENTIVELY TO PRE-LOOP ANNOUNCEMENTS! We need a few minutes of your time before the start. Race Director Tony Godino will have important information about the course and safety. You will be instructed about the hazards related to the stream crossings and current water and course conditions. Rocks and slippery ledges lurk under the surface of the water. Slow down and DON’T DIVE into the water under any circumstances.

5.) LISTEN FOR THE START! Following the instructions, Danny Martin will give a brief poem/blessing to set the tone. Then we will start the runners.

6.) IF YOU SEE MUD, RUN THROUGH IT! There’s no avoiding the mud — so simply embrace it, get dirty, and get going. After the first mile, nobody’s shoes will be clean or dry.

7.) STAY ON COURSE IF YOU CAN’T CONTINUE! There will be a number of “race sweeps” running the course following the slower runners. If for any reason you can’t continue, wait for them to get to you to assess your needs. The park is over 4,300 acres so don’t leave the course unless you know exactly where you are going.

8.) RUNNERS WITH DOGS MUST WAIT AND START AFTER THE MAIN GROUP! We will make this announcement at the start as well. If your dog is running with you in the Loop you MUST GO TO THE BACK OR SIDE OF THE START LINE with your dog and watch the main start! We realize this puts runners with dogs at a timing disadvantage, but the dogs & leashes at the start were becoming a safety hazard. This is a compromise in lieu of banning dogs altogether from the race. We don’t want to see dogs out of the race altogether so PLEASE respect this request.

If you plan to take a dog as a spectator, the county park law requires ALL dogs in parks be leashed at ALL times. This is for the safety of your dogs, other park patrons, and other dogs visiting.

9.) PLEASE LEAVE YOUR HEADPHONES IN THE CAR! This is a recent requirement. We ask for your safety and for other runners sake. If you can’t hear other runners — especially during the big start — it can cause problems for you and others on the trail.

10.) THERE IS NO SAME DAY REGISTRATION! We simply do not have room for any more registrations. Please understand the position we are put in when we have to refuse someone entry. If someone you know is interested in next year’s loop, there is a form at the website to submit name and email address. If you are signed up for this year’s Loop you are already on this email list.

11.) BRING FOOD DONATIONS! Don’t forget donations for the Help Feed the Leatherman Food Drive. Bring your non-perishable donations to the Loop and we will have a drop off point near the registration trailer. Your generosity will benefit the Community Center of Northern Westchester. Thanks to the Ceisler Family for continuing this 9th year of the food drive. We will send more information about this community effort in a separate email.

12.) RESULTS: Printed lists of finishers with time and place will be available soon after the finish at the bib pickup area and by later in the afternoon on the Loop website. Check it out at http://www.leathermansloop.org/results.

Bib pickup table.

13.) THANK A VOLUNTEER! A tremendous amount of volunteer effort goes into making the Loop a special event each year. T-shirt designers, registration volunteers, pie buyers, course setters, trail wardens, box lifters, water servers, food preparers, coffee brewers, parking coordinators, photographers, videographers, course sweeps, and the clean-up crew—not to mention the Pound Ridge, Lewisboro, and Westchester County Police officers and the fantastic and dedicated members of the Lewisboro Volunteer Ambulance Corps!

(Note: this went out as an email to all registered runners for the 2017 Loop. If you did not receive it via email and you are registered, you may want to check your spam folder and set up leathermansloop@gmail.com on your address book/white list.)

Note: There is no same day registration for the 2017 Leatherman’s Loop. All entries were done via Loop Lottery in mid-January.

Follow

Muddiest Runners

Who has run the most Loops? Who has the longest current and past streaks? Check this page to see if you are on there! Lists runners with 7 or more Loops under their belt plus other information about consecutive streaks. (There's even a list of 5+ Loopers if you check the page carefully for the link...)

Run The Farm

The seventh annual “Run The Farm” trail races will be held on Sunday, October 21st, 2018 (tentative) at Muscoot Farm. There are two different kids races plus the main trail race. Hope to see you in October! See race site for more details.

Raven Rocks Run

Raven Rocks Run is the first new race at Ward Pound Reservation in nearly 20 years. The Raven Rocks 10k Run is a challenging course with great views, rocky climbs, ridgeline trails, hilly meadows, ravines, and the site of the former fire tower.